Galatians
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The Gospel is the “power of God for salvation”
Our enemy the Devil knows this and will always look for ways to subvert the Gospel.
- In his letter to the Galatian churches Paul seeks to protect the purity of the gospel.
- Paul strongly condemns the false gospel and rebukes the Galatians for turning away from the one and only true way of salvation in Jesus Christ.
- Paul refutes the errors of false teachers and points to salvation by faith alone, by the Spirit and not by the flesh
- Through the gospel, and by the Spirit we have freedom from the law, sin, and death.
Importance
Martin Luther called Galatians his “Katie” (Catherine von Bora was his wife)
- he was wedded to this epistle, and it was exceedingly dear to him
- Though it is only six chapters long, Galatians contains one of the clearest articulations and defense of the doctrine of justification.
- Simply put, when one considers how a sinner is justified before a holy God, the book of Galatians gives a clear and succinct answer.
- Luther’s commentary on Galatians, 1535, was a spiritual nuclear bomb.
- It has been rightly called The “Magna Carta” (Great Charter) of Christian Liberty
Author and Audience and Date
- To the Galatian churches (Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra)
- These were founded by Paul and Barnabas during Paul’s 1st missionary journey, c. AD 47 (Acts 13.13-14.23 NASB95)
- This letter written in distress by Paul c. AD 49, right before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15 NASB95)
- Galatians is probably the earliest of Paul’s letters
- Much of the same content as Romans, but written with great urgency
Situation
Paul has heard of false teachers “Judaizers” threatening the churches in Galatia. Being a faithful shepherd and zealous defender of the gospel, Paul dispatches a letter that challenges the false message and messengers. As he challenges the false teachers he points the Galatians to the one true gospel.
Who were the “Judaizers”
Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. (Acts 15:1-2 NASB95)
Outline
- Greeting and Troubled Astonishment - 1.1-10
- Paul’s credentials as an apostle, and the problem stated - 1.11-2.21
- Justification if by faith alone! - 3.1-4.31
- The Freedom of a Christian and its implications - 5.1-6.10
- Admonition and Benediction 6.11-18
Themes
Justification by Faith Alone
What is justification?
To be justified is to be declared right before God. To be lawfully acquitted before the Judge.
For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (2:19-21)
The Gospel Road - The straight and narrow way.
The Road
Galatians 2:16-21 NASB95
- Justification is by faith alone, not works of the law
- Union with Christ is the essence of the Christian life
- We stay in the center by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, not on ourself
The Gospel is not fixing up our old man, but putting him to death and living in newness of life - Christ in us, the hope of glory.
The Lefthand Ditch: Legalism
Galatians 3:1-3 NASB95
- Begins with the grace of the Holy Spirit, then adds performance requirements
- Trust shifts from what Jesus is doing in me to what I am doing in myself
- Produces pride, despair, or judgment of others
Legalism doesn’t look like rebellion — it looks religious - orderly and respectable. But it is deadly. It pulls you off the road by shifting trust from Christ to yourself.
Satan comes only to steal, kill and destroy.
The Righthand Ditch: License
Galatians 5:13-24 NASB95
- Uses grace as an excuse to sin, rather than as power over sin
- Confuses freedom from condemnation, with freedom to indulge the desires of the flesh
- Leads not to joy, but bondage again to sin and despair
“Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (5.21)
Staying on the Straight and Narrow
- Galatians 5.1 NASB95 - Stand firm in freedom (don’t drift left)
- Galatians 5.16 NASB95 - Walk by the Spirit (don’t drift right)
- Galatians 5.6 NASB95 - True faith works through love
Both Legalism and License are works of the flesh.
- Legalism attempts to add our good works to the Gospel.
- License attempts to allow our bad works in with the Gospel
Christ came to save us not only from our evil works, but also from our good works.
Keeping our eyes fixed on the light of our hope ahead keeps us going straight. It’s when we look right or left that we drift.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Heb. 12:1-2 NASB95)
Assignment
Preparing
- Read Acts 13.13-14.28, Galatians
- Read chapter 12 of Introducing the New Testament (Galatians)
- Watch The Bible Project Galatians below
Respond to the following:
Knowing
- True or False: Paul publicly reprimanded Peter over the truth of the Gospel.
- In chapter 3 Paul tells us that the Law has become helpful to us. How so?
- In refuting the Judaizers Paul uses their own weapons against them. In chapter 4 he employs an allegory from the Torah. What does Hagar the slave woman represent?
Reflecting
- Paul does not begin Galatians with thanksgiving and prayer, as he usually does, but jumps directly into the issue at hand. Why do you think this is?
- Why does Paul take such great pains to defend his apostleship?
Communicating
Describe a situation when you were called upon the defend the Gospel against false teaching, either some form of Legalism, or some kind of License. What did you say? If you cannot recall such a time, imagine a scenario where someone you are speaking with says that if you do not win at least 1 soul to the Lord every month, you are in danger of losing your salvation. How would you respond?
